Photo by Katie Guymon Yesterday, Saint Louis music fans were treated to a double dose of the singer-songwriter beauty that is Jill Andrews. She first did an in-store performance at local record store, Vintage Vinyl, and she played later last night at Twangfest, sharing a bill with Cassie Morgan and The Lonely Pine, Eileen Rose … Read more
Yeah, that’s some kind of crafted dinosaur-like creature in the crowd. It’s one of Lost in the Trees’ puppets, and they had a few folks from the audience give it life. I actually hesitated to post this pic, because I don’t want you to get the wrong idea — yes, they’re a touch theatrical; no, … Read more
Well, Lauren Larson, I’m in love. Ume’s frontwoman just turned up the degrees a few notches with her swagger and completely infectious electric rampage. The Austin trio certainly plays like a band who’s been doing this for a while, and I’ll be sure to check out their songs as soon as possible (although it’s unlikely … Read more
Jacuzzi Boys, pictured above, are three pretty hip looking dudes from South Florida, bright as a neon sign at a strip club, and judging by their music, probably a lot of fun to hang out with. Their band name is one of the most brilliant on record, conjuring images of shirtless dudes in the ’80s, … Read more
On thethird LP, Dracula, Nurses taps into the physicality of rhythm and how it speaks to the body itself. For their live show, Nurses’ three members blend hypnotic sounds, shifting from instrument to instrument effortlessly, creating the feel of three producers onstage. Their performances are immersive, visceral experiences, and the dubby groove of Dracula is … Read more
Don’t mistake Ganglians for another stateside ensemble playing hollow tunes that come sepia-toned, rippling with sonic nostalgia for a period its makers never lived through. We’ll leave those lo-fi slacker-rock and chilled-out buzz-band comparisons to those other blogs you might read. Unlike many a would-be peer group riding the hype wave before washing up on … Read more
Craig Finn of The Hold Steady | Photo by Louis Kwok “Let this be my annual reminder, that we can all be something bigger,” sang frontman Craig Finn of The Hold Steady during their opening song, “Constructive Summer.” The band from Brooklyn became LouFest’s day one headliners after The Roots had to cancel because of … Read more
Photo by Ted Newsome Several songs from the last A.A. Bondy effort (2009’s When the Devil’s Loose) frequently appear on mixes I make for friends, or myself, that whisper the slow coming of fall. “I Can See the Pines Are Dancing” is a leisurely jaunt over wooded hills and through dry, crunching leaves. The title … Read more
All photos by Jason Gonulsen Kanrocksas. I heard Grace Potter say it. I heard Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips try to say it. Most, like Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, simply kept saying, “Hello, Kansas!” Or, during Eminem’s set, you heard a lot of “fuck yeah, KC!!” But really, it didn’t matter. We … Read more
And…we’re live from the second annual LouFest where Jon Hardy & the Public is currently finishing their set as I type this. The fest feels “fuller” this year, with more shaded areas, a kids stage, and basically, much more to do. Hardy & the Public looks and sounds just fine on a big stage. Like … Read more
They may call themselves Sleepy Sun, but the sun certainly did not sleep in today for the San Francisco band’s set. Nope, there are few clouds in the sky, and plenty of guitars on stage. That’s been the theme so far as this year’s LouFest: electric glory. All three bands who have played so far … Read more
On Friday, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion will be in St. Louis performing at Blueberry Hill, and we’ve got four pair of tickets to giveaway! Click here for details about the show. The husband-and-wife duo will be playing songs off their latest album, Bright Examples. Here’s a taste of the record: To enter, all … Read more
My first thought after Surfer Blood started their set: These dudes are from West Palm Beach? They make music like this in Florida? They care about music in Florida? Guess so. I’ll admit it: I see the draw here, but I’m not 100 percent convinced that this young group is the next best thing. Dom, … Read more
Photo by Graham Tolbert “Baby Missiles” perfectly illustrates everything I adore about musical juxtaposition. ’80s synth pop mixed with country-rock? Yes, please. I’ll have that. The War On Drugs frontman, Adam Granduciel, has a purposefully wobbly delivery on “Baby Missiles” that reminds me a little bit of Mark Knopfler on Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life.” … Read more
Artwork by Susan Logsdon Scarlet Tanager burst onto the local scene in a tornado of cute. I know that particular adjective has been frequently used when describing the Saint Louis six-piece, but GD if it ain’t totally accurate. And, I mean that in the best sense possible, nowhere near a patronizing connotation. About four or … Read more
LouFest, it seems like we hardly knew ye. But, it was fun while it lasted. Thanks again to Louis Kwok of music VS man for providing us the picture proof that LouFest II kicked some major ass. To see all of the photos, head on over to our Facebook page. For more about LouFest 2011, … Read more
Photo by Elizabeth Weinberg Tonight, Madi Diaz will be bringing her songs to the Old Rock House ($8), playing a show with Keegan DeWitt and St. Louis buzz band Union Tree Review, and there’s plenty to get excited about. Diaz will be releasing a three-song EP titled Far From Things That We Know on September … Read more
When the book of LouFest is written, it very well may end up that Jeff Tweedy is on its cover. But, consider this: late yesterday afternoon, The Roots, who were supposed to headline the festival, had to cancel. Around 24 hours before the big party, LouFest had lost one of its stars. That’s a potential … Read more
San Fran rock group Girls have released a new single entitled “Vomit” (yes, “Vomit”) as the lead in to their new LP, Father, Son, Holy Ghost (True Panther), and the track is a doozy. Starting with a simple guitar scale and strum and the hushed delivery of singer Christopher Owens’ unmistakable vocals, the initial gentle … Read more
Once I wanted to be the greatestNo wind or waterfall could stall me Haven’t we all felt like the person in this Cat Power song? The assurance. The confidence. The belief that it was all possible. I’ve always wanted to hear this one live, so I’m hoping she decides to dust it off next weekend … Read more
In 2005, Brooklyn / Philly based group Clap Your Hands Say Yeah reached near mythical status in the indie community as a result of the grass roots, do it yourself, release of their exceptional self-titled debut record. Two years later, the quintet released Some Loud Thunder, a record that, for the most part, fell short … Read more
Dreamers of the Ghetto are a family band from Indiana, consisting of brothers Luke and Jonathan Jones, Luke’s wife, Lauren, and then some guy named Marty. After teasing us blogs with kick ass, homemade video clips for the past year, they have quickly become one of the most eccentric, but perhaps promising bands out there … Read more
There are few voices that stop me in my tracks. You know, ones that you fall in love with the first second you hear them; ones that make you wonder where they had been all your life. Alyssa Graham has one of those voices. She has the songs to go with it, too. In fact, … Read more
The dog days of summer were built for bands like The New Mastersounds. Their overall sound – something straight out of ’60s and ’70s funk – is jammy and twisted in all the right ways, perfect for that needed second wind or backyard BBQ pick-me-up when the buzz is starting to fade. Their new album, … Read more
In a lot of ways, summer is about getting away, breaking free from whatever it is you do to make a living. That’s what keeps me sane – knowing that there are days ahead where I’ll be on my own, not looking at a spreadsheet or dealing with a budget. Music, of course, is also … Read more
Recently, Josh Sickels and Nic Snyder of the awesomely awesome 1,2,3 took the time to answer some questions for us about their hometown of Pittsburgh, or “The Burgh” as these resident Pennsylvanians have earned the right to call it. I think this just might be my favorite Hometowns ever. The guys show their The Steel … Read more
After spending the bulk of the past year on the road in support of last November’s excellent LP, Sports, Weekend has since been hard at work on their highly anticipated followup effort. Prior to their European tour in July, the band spent three weeks in the studio recording tracks that would become an EP, now … Read more
Back in May, we introduced you to Chicago synth-pop rockers Hey Champ and offered up a deliciously free download of the groovy dance inciter “Anything At All,” the lead single from their EP bearing the same name. Following the EP release, the fellas released Volume 3 of their Winner’s Circle Mixtape series. Entitled “Cool in … Read more
If you’re here at LouFest, Area K is a must. I just got back from catching a few minutes of Dubb Nubb, who’s now a trio, and while the stage is sort of small, the sounds coming from it are not. Sisters Hannah and Delia Rainey showed why they were picked to play this year’s … Read more
Birds and Arrows formed in the musically rich town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 2007, as a creative outlet for wife and husband duo, Andrea Connolly and Pete Connolly. Together they quickly released two EPs. The first, an eponymous effort documenting the strained conditions under which the two first met, was followed by the Woodgrain … Read more